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By Category: Policy & Initiatives

Funding Cuts Imperil Biothreat Response Capability, Officials Say

(Global Security Newswire) Spending reductions threaten to seriously undermine the readiness of U.S. public health agencies to limit the potentially devastating impact of disease agents spread either intentionally or by natural means, federal health officials warned on Thursday. The 2011 film “Contagion” offered a glimpse into the potential deadly consequences of recent and anticipated cuts Read More »

February 27, 2012
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, and Policy & Initiatives
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Group of Eight Nonproliferation Program to Deliver Aid to Kazakhstan

(Global Security Newswire) An international operation aimed at countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related materials has agreed to deliver assistance to Kazakhstan, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. The Group of Eight nations’ Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction focuses on securing nuclear and Read More »

February 27, 2012
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, International, and Policy & Initiatives
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Biosecurity Board Head Questions Call to Release Full Flu Research Papers

(Global Security Newswire) The head of the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has voiced reservations about an international expert group’s recommendation to publish the full findings of studies that increased the transmissibility of the avian flu virus, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reported on Tuesday. The U.S. board in December Read More »

February 24, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Racial Divide Seen in Fear Over Anthrax Strike

(Global Security Newswire) ANAHEIM, Calif. — Racial and ethnic minorities in the United States are more likely than white residents to consider themselves at high risk of dying or suffering serious harm from the intentional release of anthrax, according to research survey results unveiled on Wednesday. The findings highlight the need for targeted government communications over Read More »

February 24, 2012
| Filed under North America, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Flu papers warrant full publication

(Nature.com) That is the rationale provided by Paul Keim, acting chair of the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), in response to questions posed by Nature (PS Keim Nature 482, 156–157; 2012) about the NSABB’s recommendation that recent work …